Coming out of the University Center, Cap was beginning to feel just a hint of what it means to be a Vol fan. He headed across Circle Dr., and up to the top of “The Hill,” signature landmark on campus. The University of Tennessee was founded in 1794, and moved to The Hill in 1828. The University has grown around it. Ayers Hall, home of the College of Arts and Sciences, sits at the top of The Hill, and next to Ayers is South College Hall, the oldest building on campus, built in 1872.
 
Cap sat looking down through the trees at the traffic along Cumberland Ave., and breathed in the energy of the campus. And he was certainly not alone. So many had been here before - coming to learn, to grow, and moving on.  As they have come and gone the University has remained behind – itself a living thing – growing, serving, providing a vehicle for change and a reliable haven to return to – Alma Mater. And with the energy, Cap felt a powerful sense of anticipation and contentment.  An autumn football weekend on a college campus – as good as it gets. He knew he would leave here refreshed, renewed. 

Then back to University Center where he boarded the shuttle, which took him past McKlung Tower, up Volunteer Blvd., to the information booth, where he picked up a campus map and then strolled down Johnny Majors Dr., past Neyland/Thompson Sports Center, and Stokely Athletic Center, back to Volunteer Blvd., where he caught another passing shuttle and sat back to see the main campus. The entire campus contains more than 200 buildings spread over 500 acres, and an enrollment of 26,000.
 
An easy, comfortable afternoon tour over the gentle slopes of the UT campus - a southern autumn feel – warm but with fall freshness in the air, beneath a thick spread of foliage.
 
The shuttle returned to University Center where Cap got off and walked down Phillip Fulmer Way past Neyland Stadium, past Tee Martin Dr., to the parking lots south of Neyland, where he had a good view of the Tennessee River, and could see the boats come in - one-by-one to dock south of the stadium in Volunteer Landing Park, forming the “Vol Navy”. From there the crews of these vessels would tailgate and gear up for tomorrow’s showdown with the Tide. As the “Star of Knoxville” - an authentic paddlewheeler - crawled past, TC settled back on a bench and as he studied his campus map an item caught his eye: “The Torchbearer.” 
 
Located at the top up the hill from Neyland Stadium, where Peyton Manning Pass runs into Volunteer Blvd., sits The Torchbearer - the statue holding an eternal flame. The Torchbearer symbolizes the Volunteer spirit and the “torch” of service taken on whenever one becomes a part of the University.  The Torchbearer, a sacred symbol, is a prime point of reference, a landmark and focal point for pre-game gathering.
 
Then back to the Hampton for a dip in the pool, and after one of his patented power naps Cap was ready to roll.  As he headed out he heard something in the distance – was that old Smokey howling? No, it was that Friday night steak – calling his name.
 
Friday night on The Strip
As the sun sank, The Strip came alive. Cap had decided that just to be on the safe side, he would make a dinner reservation. Good move. When he arrived at the Copper Cellar, downstairs inside the Cumberland Grill, the place was packed. He took his time, feasting on crab bisque, prosperity steak, bleu cheese grit, and the chef’s specialty mashed potatoes.

His hunger satisfied, he ascended the stairs and stepped out into party central. Cumberland was grid locked - bumper-to-bumper traffic, for blocks. Backed up on both sides of the red light at 17th and Cumberland, vehicles crawling - drivers in no hurry.

Several pickups were in the parade - their beds full of students and fans - bragging, strutting, taunting.

A pickup-full was stopped right in front of Wendy’s, its screaming occupants carrying a huge ‘Bama flag, as they challenged nearby Vol fans. People on the sidewalks and in other vehicles were quick to answer them as the light changed and their traveling show moved on.

So was the scene on down The Strip, as Cap moved through the crowded sidewalks - in and out of the bars - dance floors jumpin’ - at the Cube, Liquid Knoxville, the Long Branch, and Hannah’s Café, then stopping for a tall libation at The Half Barrel and wrapping it up at O’Charley’s, where an impassioned Vol die-hard, standing on a table, led the rabid crowd in singing "Rocky Top."  What else?

Cap drifted back out onto Cumberland, retrieved his car and worked his way slowly through the traffic, through the revelry, to the Hampton. He hung around the lobby for a while, asking if anyone had any extra tickets for sale. No luck. He left his contact info with the desk clerk, just in case. No stress - plenty of time to find a ticket.

 Back in his room, he unwound slowly from the atmosphere of passions unleashed that still raged on Cumberland Avenue.

The Strip in Knoxville on Friday night before a home game - there is a fever here, no doubt, Cap concluded -Orange Fever. It’s something special.

Finally, drowsiness overtook him, and he fell happily into slumber – but only after singing that first verse and chorus,

 
Gameday
Saturday morning broke sunny - a few high clouds in the distance, cool, light breeze - perfect for some Smoky Mountain smash-mouth.
 
Cap rolled out feeling strong, and dressed quickly. With a 3:30 p.m. kick-off, he had plenty of time, but he wanted to find a good place to watch the ESPN GameDay show, followed by the early round of games.
 
His gameday attire consisted of a stout-looking cap - white crown with orange button-on top, orange bill and checkerboard Block T - and a white shirt with orange Block T and "GO VOLS" underneath – Perfect, Smokey would approve. And the essentials: binos, camera, fold-up schedule of match-ups and game times, nationwide, shades, cash. Check and double check. One thing was missing: game ticket. You gotta believe.
 
TC grabbed a bagel and anxiously headed out. He drove under the Cumberland Foot Bridge, which carried a steady stream of fans onto the campus, and parked in a lot on 20th St., just off Cumberland. 
 
Cap noticed fans heading into Liquid Knoxville, and followed. Inside, TV screens were flashing around the edges of the large dance floor. Liquid Knoxville is an establishment that is just what the name implies – a hard-core drinking hangout for students and fans. And on gamedays it also serves as a great place to watch college football, all day long.
 
Hot dogs, coffee and many other forms of liquid refreshment were available, as ESPN 
GameDay came on, in studio, from Bristol, Conn. As soon as it ended, the early round of games took off.
 
Some of the screens were tuned to showdowns from outside the south – but not without controversy.  Cap lobbied for a couple of Big 12 and Big 10 showdowns, but these fans would have none of it. They decisively shouted him down – demanding the screens be tuned to games involving Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Ole Miss. Summing it up, thought Cap, these folks are SEC all the way!  Hmmm…
 
TC became lost in the competition leaping off the screens from across the nation, but he was haunted by an annoying fact that wouldn’t go away: he still didn’t have a game ticket - and those checkerboard end zones were calling him   He pulled himself away from the games and headed outside.
 
The Strip was alive as fans pored into the area. He hustled back across Cumberland and into tailgater’s paradise. The area just north of and along Cumberland – parking spaces, vacant lots, every empty space available - was filled with Vol-mania. Grills, tables, chairs, coolers, TVs, speakers blaring, footballs flying and Orange – everywhere.
 
Cap moved from one tailgating location to the next, holding up one finger, but no luck. No, it didn’t mean, “We’re number one”. It meant, “Need One Ticket” - hey, not a bad business name for a ticket-broker.  Where had he seen that before?  Hmmm….
 
Single tickets were virtually extinct, and behind a calm exterior, Cap was fighting panic as kickoff neared and he headed toward campus.  Then, from out of nowhere, he won the lottery. Waiting for the light at 17th and Cumberland, he witnessed the sale of three tickets from a group of four, together.
 
The seller, obviously a scalper, was glad to make the sale, but now had to get rid of that last ticket. Perfect for Cap - he pounced.  You got one?  Where’s it located? South end zone, upper deck, low, huh? How much you need for it, he asked, nonchalantly. The price was right and it was done: “ticket in hand.”  Never a doubt.
 
His ticket tucked safely in his wallet, Cap moved with the crowd - a sea of Orange - up Volunteer Blvd. to the Torchbearer, where Volunteer meets Peyton Manning Pass.